Dr. Stephen H. Lockhart goes by another name to many of those within NatureBridge: The Steve Lockhart. Once you speak with Steve or read his curriculum vitae, you quickly understand he is worthy of that prefix. A Rhodes Scholar, he began college at the age of 15 and graduated at 18, going on to earn a master’s in economics from Oxford and a PhD and MD from Cornell. Steve is one of the most accomplished anesthesiologists in his field and his conservation efforts have earned him numerous distinctions, including being named a Champion of Change by the Obama Administration. He serves and has served on numerous boards, including REI and Molina Healthcare, and recently started Sutter Health Institute for Advancing Health Equity.

He has served NatureBridge in multiple capacities over the years: board member, Board Chair, Chief Medical Officer and more. In our conversation, Steve provides insight as a physician, as a former board chair and as an extraordinarily accomplished agent of change on why NatureBridge survived a global pandemic, the opportunity we have to help students heal post-pandemic and what he would change about the organization with the click of a button.

Andy Baxter, prince among men and one of the last true gentlemen, passed away in February 2022. Andy committed himself passionately to several organizations he held close to his heart—lucky for our mission and the students we serve, one of those organizations was NatureBridge. 

In the early 1970s, Jack Walston was approached by his friend Bob Maynard to help him with an idea – Bob, who was Vice President of Operations at Yosemite Park Curry Company, along with its president, Dr. Alan Coleman and then-Director of the National Park Service George B. Hartzog Jr., wanted to fill their less attractive, often-empty cabins with area students by providing them with educational programming. Why approach Jack Walston, a senior executive at a large brokerage firm at the time?

“I knew I could help make it succeed.”

In the months to come, Jack helped construct a potent board of conservationists, Yosemite enthusiasts and experts, thought leaders in the field and other successful people that would help found and guide Yosemite Institute (now NatureBridge) for years to come. Read the story of how NatureBridge was born and learn what it took to get Ansel Adams, a U.S Secretary of Defense and a famous astronaut to join the very first board of directors.